Europe begins mass deportations of Afghans under deal

World Today

Europe has begun deporting people seeking asylum from Afghanistan, under a deal struck with the Afghan government in October, to accept deportations or see its aid slashed.

CCTV’s Catherine James reports. Follow Catherine James on Twitter @cathjam

Thirty-four Afghans from Germany were the first to land in Kabul airport, of tens of thousands of forced deportations expected under the deal named the Joint Way Forward.

Some countries have been expelling Afghans all year.

Najib Bahadori was deported two months ago from Norway with his young family. He has not lived in Afghanistan for over 20 years and he has no job. His wife and children have never lived here – they were all born in Iran.

Rising insecurity across Afghanistan is the main reason deportations have been heavily criticized, and also why people like Najib are not expected to remain in Afghanistan for long.

Najib said he doesn’t know what he will do. For now, his immediate concern is to help his son, Ali Raza, who misses his friends in Norway. He has almost completely withdrawn since they arrived in Kabul, a mood compounded since the suicide bombing at their local mosque.